Have Wings,Will Fly

Raj comes to you walking on his hands,spirited,smiling,successful. Lifes put him through many tests-poverty alienation,physical handicap...

Its a prologue to success for the children of Theatre Age as they top their first test of schooling

Raj comes to you walking on his hands,spirited,smiling,successful. Lifes put him through many tests poverty alienation,physical handicap,but hes let nothing come in his way of making a sound beginning,one that will open many doors of opportunity,in the process inspiring many others to never give up. Part of a large group of Theatre Age students,many who have been to school for the first time in Class VIII,Rajs passed his exams in the first division and the celebrations are just starting. After years that I got a chance to go back to school and I grabbed it with both my hands,studying for 13 hours a day,picking up the book whenever I had a spare moment and listening to every instruction of my teachers, Raj looks up fondly at Zulfiqar Khan,Rajni Taneja,Soumya,his pillars of strength.

The last two days have been replete with anxiety for Zulfiqar,as 12 of his students were appearing for the Class VIII board exams and its been a long struggle for him to first secure regular admission for them and preparing them for the exam. The roadblocks have been many,be it never having seen a school before,their backgrounds,parental pressure…and weve got 100 per cent result,with five first divisions,they have done me proud and also all the people who support my cause. When people give me their money,time and backing,I have to prove my dedication and mettle and show them were on the right path,moving ahead. I told the Principal to give them one chance and assured him that they would do well or I would never ever again ask for anything. They all have lived up to their promise and my faith, Khan talks about how these children,many of them working as dishwashers,newspaper delivery boys,household help needed constant encouragement to make them believe they could do it.

For their teachers,who have worked relentlessly and voluntarily with these children for months,lifes come a full circle. After all,education is the greatest leveller. As they share sweets with their students,Rajni Taneja,who taught Social Studies to them recalls how tough it was for her to start with the basics. They went straight to Class VIII,had never been to school before,had no concept of language,patience,less attention span and there were days when I feared I would fail them. We have three books in the course and after teaching in the school in the morning,I would be with them. Ive been teaching for so long,but the kind of satisfaction I have today,I have never felt,and now Im looking forward to the next batch, Taneja teaches at the 32 Government School.

Soumya hasnt slept for the last two days,the neverousness that this final-year student at the Architecture College has experienced is something unique. The young womans been responsible for teaching math and tells you how one of her students has scored 76 marks in the math paper. I began by teaching them tables,multiplication,algebra,geometry and have learnt so much from them in the process. Yes,it was tough,being from a Convent,it took me time to teach in Hindi,but Im a changed person. At the end of the day,its all about believing in what you do and adding value to someones life, Soumya hopes to take up teaching as a full-time career.

Anup,Lucky,Pramod,Raj,they all have a dream,to be actors,engineers,teachers,musicians and faith and fire to catch each dream…

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More

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Have Wings,Will Fly

Raj comes to you walking on his hands,spirited,smiling,successful. Lifes put him through many tests-poverty alienation,physical handicap...

Raj comes to you walking on his hands,spirited,smiling,successful. Lifes put him through many tests-poverty alienation,physical handicap...